UCSB Santa Barbara NSW Natural Sea Water...

[Reefer Brian]

How and why is you display tanks PO4 ~.50-.75 and the water you put in is only .03???? Shouldnt it be lower after you do a water change through dilution? Dosent make any sense to me. Just curious.

 

[Reefski's]

it was lower. it went from 0.7 to 0.52

 

[Reefer Brian]

Those are still scary numbers for any reefkeeper. Are you trying anything to get it lower? Or you just not worried about it?

 

[Reefski's]

i am very worried. see my tank build thread for more info. click on the red house and check out newest post.

 

[Reefer Brian]

I was reading your latest post on your thread when you were typing your last post here. I have been watching your build for a while now and just dont understand your PO4 issue. My only suggestion is clean RO/DI water and GFO. With the high levels, I still dont understand why your corals are still evev growing. I highly respect your knowlege and design but cant comprehend your PO4 issue. I have never seen or dealt with a level of PO4 like yours. I guess all you can do is purchase a 5g bucket of GFO. Good luck and keep us posted....

 

[Reefski's]

i have that 5 gallon bucket of GFO.

 

[Reefer Brian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14174615#post14174615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefski's
i have that 5 gallon bucket of GFO.

Why not put it to use???

 

[Reefski's]

i am filling the filter with it today. i have had concerns about the swings in alkalinity that it seems to cause. the swings have caused tip die off of the acros.

but i will give it a shot again and try to keep a close eye on the alkalinity.

Carl

 

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14184299#post14184299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefski's
i am filling the filter with it today. i have had concerns about the swings in alkalinity that it seems to cause. the swings have caused tip die off of the acros.

but i will give it a shot again and try to keep a close eye on the alkalinity.

Carl

Two years ago my tank was 100% NSW from UCSB, at that time I was subscribing to AWT on a monthly basis. Not that I trust AWT very much but it did open my eyes and I would never suspected borate to be low. The AWT reports came back 2x with low borate.

Generally I would never recommend this except under rare occasions however I used some Two Mule Team borax per one of Randy's articles on Borate with no ill effects on SPS. The alkalinity swings were less dramatic and easier to manage. Maybe some Seachem buffer would work instead.

Too much borate can through off future alkalinity readings so close monitoring is key and the problem is hobbiest test kits are shaddy at best for borate.

 

[Reefski's]

oh geez, something new to worry about. i'll go find that article.

i assume AWT is a water testing service?

 

[Ian]

aquarium water testing...

 

[nikecivic]

I'm planning to pick up water this weekend...any news on the water parameters?

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I picked up about 450 Gal two weeks ago and did about a 350G water change. No problems so far.

 

[DANNY G2004]

Hey Ray what R U using to bring that amount of water or do you make multy trips

 

[SBJim]

350 gal water change. Holy crap!

 

[Reefer Brian]

One week ago the PO4 was .21 on the Hanna....thats a little high for my tastes.

 

[nikecivic]

Just picked up around 180 gallons today. Ready to start up the 125gallon tank!

 

[Reefski's]

can you measure the PO4 on the water?

last batch i got was 0.03 i think. time before 0.09

 

[FOSELONE]

i was thinking of driving down to scripps tonight but it rained earlier today...not a good idea ???

 

[Reefski's]

i doubt if it will make much difference with the small amt of rain we got. at UCSB they don't change how much they run through their system because it rains.

Carl